Scraper for battery posts



July 5, 1949. R. J. PLUMLEY 2,475,514

SCRAPER FOR BATTERY POSTS Filed Ndv. 27, 1944 F '1/'y.i 1 .5, 1 45 4 Patented July 5, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SCRAPER FOR BATTERY POSTS Robert J. Plumley, Williamsville, N. Y.

Application November 27, 1944, Serial No. 565,367

2 Claims.

My invention relates to a device for cleaning battery connection members of the nature employed on batteries for automobiles.

The connection members of automobile batteries invariably consist of tapering battery posts extending upwardly from the top of the battery and contractible clip connectors adapted to be placed over the battery posts and fastened thereto, the opening through such connectors tap-cring in one direction to conform to the taper of the battery posts.

Verdigris and dust, dirt and other foreign matter 1 accumulate on these connections, causing corrosion and otherwise rendering the electrical connection thus established between the battery and its current-conducting wires less eiiective. A bad electrical connection is, therefore, established and maintained unless the parts or members forming the connection between the battery and current-conducting wires are maintained in clean condition. This, however, has been quite difficult due to the fact that so far as known by applicant, no means has been provided for cleaning battery posts or the connectors to which the current-conducting wires are secured; it being common practice to resort to the use of a cloth or rag, or a. brush, both unsuitable for the purpose, with the result that the connector members or elements are only partly cleaned and in a short time verdigris with dust and dirt accumulating again quickly builds up and the efiiciency of the battery is considerably reduced.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a tool of the kind mentioned which is simple in construction, inexpensive, and easily operated so as to enable the owner or user of a car to maintain the connections to the battery in clean condition, equaling or at least closely approaching that existing when a new battery and new connectors thereto are employed.

Another object of my invention is to provide a tool of the kind mentioned by means of which the peripheral surface of a binding post can be scraped by applying the required tension to the tool without wearing away any portion of theqbinding post and whereby the interior or contacting surface of a clip connector designed to be placed over the binding post may be scraped to free it of verdigris or other undesirable matter. without cutting into and removing any portion of the clip connector.

A further object of my invention is to provide a tool ofthe kind mentioned with spaced-apart members having means to scrape the peripheral surface of a binding post andmeans for straddling the binding post while scraping the same so as to prevent accidental displacement of the tool during the act of scraping the post, and which also is provided with means for scraping the interior of a clip. connector adapted to be clamped onto a binding post and with rider means whereby the scraping means may be more effectively guided around the wall of the hole or opening in the connector and the tension applied to the scraping means regulated more effectively.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved cleaning device or tool, showing the same applied to a binding post of a battery, such as used in automobiles.

Fig. 2 is aside elevation viewed from the left of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a side elevation viewed from the right of Fig. 1..

Fig. 4 is acrosssection taken on line 3-6, Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the tool, showing the same inserted into a clip connector, 2. portion of the handle of the tool being broken away.

Fig. '7 is a longitudinal section taken on line 1-1, Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrow crossing said line.

Fig. 8 is a cross section taken on line 8-8, Fig. 6.

In this improved device I provide two arms or members which are or may be flexibly connected together at one of their ends and which have their opposite ends free and capable of movement relatively toward and from each other due to their flexible connection.

In preferred form, I construct this tool of a flat strip of metal bent centrally between its ends to provide two elongated arms or members iii and H, which are spaced apart and connected by the curved bight l2 formed by bending the strip upon itself. 7

This strip is preferably formed of steel and it is cyanide or otherwise hardened so that a degree of resiliency is imparted to the two arms or members l0 and Ii. The arm or member I0" is curved transversely, as at l3, so as to pro- Vide a concavo-convex terminal for the same, the radius of the inner surface of which is preferably smaller than the radius of the battery post, which latter is designated by the numeral l4 and extends upwardly from the batteryproper, designated by the numeral l5. In thismanner sharp scraping edges or angles l are provided at the points where the edge faces of the arm l3 meet the concaved inner surface of the arm. g

It is also to be noted that the two arms i l) and I l are slightly flared or made diverging from the bight l2 to their free ends and the inclination thus given these arms approximates that of the upward taper of the battery post; such taper being usually provided for all posts of batteries.

The arm II is provided at opposite edges andnear its lower end with" notches l1, gradually deepened toward the free end of the arm, thus providing a narrowed and tapered portion H8 at such region of the arm. This narrowed taper portion is disposed opposite' the major portion of the concavo-convexed terminal 13 of the arm Ill. At the extremity of the/arm :H' laterally projecting curved lugs I9 extend from opposite edges thereof, the regionnf this arm embracing said lugs being made concavo-convex and being adaptedto ride over the peripheralface of the battery post. 7

This tool isdesigned to have itslower endlfittedw over the battery post with the arms In andll thereof engaging oppositesides of the post'andit is to be rotated around the post or oscillated thereon so that verdigrisandall'othermatter adhering theretomay be scraped therefrom}.by-- the edges orlangles I6 formedby-the flat edges of the arm and their inner 'co'nca'ved surfacesat the concavo-convexed region l3ginthe-manner clearly illustrated in Fig.5;

For the purpose of 'conveniently' 'rotatingthe":

tool, I prefer to pass through bo'th arms :near their upper ends a rod 20 serving asa haridle, said rod serving-to 'maintai'n the arms "in-their normally flared or diverging relation. By grasp ing this" hand-1e, the toolma-y be easily "rotated continuously in one or the other directionwhile' the lower end thereof is in engagement with the battery post, or it may be rotated back and forth" traversing sufficient or the surface' of the post so that the entire peripheral area will be cleared of adhering matter.

The rod or handle!!! may be-'loose1y'=th'rustthrough alined openings in the two arms I0 and I l so that the said arms may move inwardly on the jis tightened on the bolt,- the opening-1iformed u rod or handle by'exertiiig pressure-withthhaiid against the outer sides of the devic'eytheopenings' being so-giori'ned that thewalls'th'ereof normally inpinge against the rod and maintain the arms' in proper flared or diverging're'lation. Under such action, the operating terminalof thearm 10 having theconcavo convexed portion"! 3 "will be" I forced against the battery post with the necessary pressure. Such pressure; however; may be pro vided by the inherent resiliency of the arms," which, however, I do notco'nsid'er as" practicable for use by inexperiencedpersonsfi I When the rod orhandle is assed loosel through the two armsor'mem'bers' idand-l l oi the'tool, the bight l2 atthe upper endfof the tool--- serves as the fulcrum point for the arms.

If desired, the rodor-handlemay befpassed through the tw'oarms or'm'enibers of-the=-tool" with a tight fit so thatmover'nen'tontherod 1 or handle is prevented. In that case, a nnc'rn point is established-for each armat" the region through which the rod or handle is passed. Under such conditions slightly more pressure against the outer faces of the arms -or members may "be required to create the contact-pressure which the scrapingedges orangles l 6' are to exert against the battery post; but when 'theresiliency of the connection-for the arms is relied upemttie through to receiveth'e batteryposts:

passed tlirough-"-sa1d open-ing, preferabfy Stein of the arm in bears against the opposite side of the post, it being preferable to have the radius of the ooncaved inner surface of the arms smaller than the radius of the peripheral surface of the battery post. At the same time the lugs I5 atthe end'of the arm ll straddle the battery post and prevent the tool accidentally riding 011 the post while rotating the tool to scrape the latter.

It will 'be' apparent that when using this tool on a "battery-post, the concave-convex" terminalof the arm I 0 servessas-the operatingor scraping; element ofthe tool while thelower end or terminal ;of the arm H serves as 'arider elementwhichmoves in contact with the battery ost andalso prevents fthetool slipping ifroin" the postwhe under action to free the post from' adhering-: matter.

Since batter posts I invariably have if a i slight taper upwardly from the body qrtne b'attery,-the usual clip connector 'applied :thereto' for eon necting the current-conducting wire's therewithhas a-post-receiving hole "or -'opening- 21 tlier In Figss and #7 I have illustrated "a 'connector 'oi thistyp and in these figur'e'sfl 2- "des'ignates the-connector considered as a wholez The conventional: type 1 of connectorillustrated comprises 'a short sleevev 23 opener split, asat- M, and'at opposite sides-'1 Of'tI'iB open or" splitjregionnt is provided'withoutstanding lugs' 25. Through these lugs a==- clamping and I securing bolt 26' is passe'd," onto whioh'a nut 21' is threaded"aBd WheHthe latti in the sleeve'is reduced 'in diame'te'r. The open ing normal-ly -is 'of'a'siZe' so" that tnerconnecto may be easily passed over the battery'post' 'lland when tighteniiigtheniit 2'. on"the bo1t 26=, this'connector issecurely fastened to the battery post. Diametricallyoppos'ite the lugs 25 ;"a-b6 28 extends from'th sleeve 23 'and into thisbo'ss the current-"conducting wire 2 9 is secured;

Since verdigr'is and other" matter rorms on or 5 adhere'sto thebattery postytnewallbf th hele or opening 2 l'in' the sleeve -23may' become coat with Verdigris and other rdr'eignmatter and "this improved tool .is also" designed terree tnewa11 of the opening-"of such matt'er." Itm-ay herdbe stated that the hole" or openingiii the sneveet tapers upwardly to J co'iiforintd tne taperof the battery post.- a

When using this tool to scrape thewal-ror the opening in the''sle'eve orthis 'connectc tneteo is thrust into the opening 2 preferably from the ends of the armso'r members 10 and I I are sets rated under their inherent resiliency to a degree; that will n'eces'sitate' opposite pressures being applied to theouter sides of these arms-to diminish the distance between'tnemand somertheir lower'ends' lie within are ion'smau'er than the'smaller-end of theope'ning-in the connector:

This will enable the freeendsofthe' arm to b the larger end of the latter, and upon relieving the pressure applied to said arms, they will immediately expand or spring outwardly and engage the tapering wall of said opening. These arms are, of course, so positioned that the narrowed taper portion E8 of the arm II will lie in contact with the full length of the wallof the opening; due to said wall being tapered. At such times the retainer lugs l9 and the extremity of the concavoconvex portion of the arm will extend through the upper end of the sleeve 23 of the connector, as clearly shown in Fig. 6, while the adjacent convexed exterior surface of the arm ID will engage the wall of said opening and the scraping edges of the narrowed taper portion I8 of the arm I I, to be now described, will engage said wall at spaced apart points. The edges of the arm II are beveled outwardly as shown in Figs. and 7 so as to provide tapering sharp scraping edges or angles 30. By reason of tapering the scraping edges or angles 36, they lie in contact throughout their lengths with the tapering wall of the opening in the connector and compensate fully for the contrary disposition of that portion of the arm I I extending through said opening. Upon rotating the tool in the manner already stated, these scraping edges ride in contact with the inner face of the opening in the connector and scrape the same to free it from any adhering matter.

It will be apparent, therefore, that when using the tool as a scraper for a battery post, the concave-convex portion l3 of the arm to serves as the scraping element while the flat narrowed taper portion l8 of the arm II and that region of the latter having the lugs l8 thereon serve as a rider or guiding medium, and that when utilizing the tool to scrape the wall of the opening in the connector, the said narrowed taper portion of the arm ll serves as a scraping medium while the concavo-convex portion of the arm l0 serves I as a rider or guiding medium.

For convenience in description, I refer to the connected ends of the arms I0 and H as the upper end of the tool or device while the free ends of said arms are referred to as the lower end thereof. It will, however, be apparent that the tool or device may be operated in any of various positions, but in most instances, and especially when scraping battery posts, the tool will be positioned with its handle at the top even though the tool is shown inverted in Fig. 6 of the drawing. By reversing the connector from the position shown in Fig. 6, the tool will be used in the position shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3.

Under the terms of the claims appended hereto, my improved tool need not necessarily be constructed of flat strip material, since it is possible to provide flexible arms or members functioning in the manner described from material otherwise shaped, or from a tube which may be slotted lengthwise at diametrically-opposite sides to provide spaced apart arms adapted to straddle a battery post or to be inserted through an opening in a connector of a current-conducting wire. Other changes may be resorted to without departing from my invention as defined in the claims hereof or sacrificing any of the advantages thereof.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. A tool for cleaning battery posts, comprising spacedapart flexible arms connected together at their upper ends and having free lower ends, one of said arms having a fiat lower portion facing inwardly and adapted to ride in contact with a battery post at one side thereof and the other arm being adapted to be disposed against the battery post at the opposite side thereof and being transversely curved to provide longitudinal scraping edges to contact the peripheral surface of the battery post in spaced-apart relation to the flat lower portion of said first-mentioned arm, said first-mentioned arm having inwardly curved lugs extending from its extremity at opposite edges thereof adjacent said flat lower portion.

2. A tool for cleaning battery posts and connectors therefor, comprising two spaced-apart fiexibly-connected arms formed of a flat strip of metal curved upon itself mid-way between its ends so as to provide connected upper ends for said arms and free lower ends, the lower end of one of said arms being reduced in width and tapered downwardly and its extremity provided with inwardly-curved lugs adapted to straddle a battery post, the edges of said reduced portion being beveled outwardly, the lower end of the other arm being curved transversely opposite the reduced and tapered portion of said first-mentioned arm to provide a terminal having a concaved inner surface, the edges formed by the angles of the edge faces of said arm and said concaved inner surface serving as scraping edges, and a rod thrust through said arms near their upper ends serving as a handle for the tool and as a means for maintaining said arms in normal diverging relation.

ROBERT J. PLU'MLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following referenlces are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,463,350 Wamback July 31, 1923 1,741,531 Miller Dec. 31, 1929 1,870,133 Myers Aug. 2, 1932 1,913,606 Mc Kenna June 13, 1933 2,003,629 Coffey June 4, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 729,683 France May 2, 1932 

